Maidstone Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Andrea Berquez stole an item from the fruit and vegetable section at M&S in Tunbridge Wells and was caught on CCTV running from the shop. She admitted five offences committed between April 25 and May 15 this year and was sentenced to a two-year conditional discharge order.

After Maidstone United's National League South play-off final defeat against Boreham Wood on 18 May 2025, a fight broke out on a train travelling towards Halling. At Halling railway station an injured man was escorted onto the platform, where Freddie Dunmall punched him and John Ryan punched him twice. Cameron Brockman then kicked the man. Brockman was charged with affray and admitted the offence.

On 18 May 2025, after attending Maidstone United's play-off final, Brockman was involved in a large fight on board a train. At Halling railway station, an injured man was escorted off the train and followed out; after the man was punched by two others, Brockman kicked him. British Transport Police officers arrived and took details of those involved. Brockman was interviewed the following month and later charged with affray.

After Maidstone United's National League South play-off final defeat against Boreham Wood on 18 May 2025, a fight broke out on a train travelling towards Halling. At Halling railway station an injured man was escorted onto the platform, and Freddie Dunmall followed him and punched him. John Ryan then punched the man twice and Cameron Brockman kicked him. Dunmall was charged with affray and admitted the offence.

After Maidstone United's National League South play-off final defeat against Boreham Wood on 18 May 2025, a fight broke out on a train travelling towards Halling. At Halling railway station an injured man was escorted onto the platform, where Freddie Dunmall punched him. John Ryan then punched the man twice and Cameron Brockman kicked him. Ryan was charged with affray and admitted the offence.

Rebecca Day admitted handling stolen goods after a KTM Duke motorcycle was found in her garden on February 18, 2025. The motorbike had been left there by an acquaintance and remained while she was waiting for someone to collect it. She was sentenced at the same hearing as her son, whose separate vehicle theft case was also before the court.

On May 22, 2025, Steven Kiley, a learner driver, was driving a black Smart car uninsured and without a licence when he crashed head-on into a blue people carrier on Brielle Way, Sheerness. He was on the wrong side of the road, straddling both lanes. The collision seriously injured the victim, a passenger in the other vehicle, causing fractures to his eye socket, lower spine, and a foot injury that required realignment, leaving him unable to work as a builder. All four men in the other car were injured. Kiley admitted to having been drinking at the scene, though he was not tested. He pleaded guilty in April 2026.

On March 14, Thomas Hilditch, 35, deliberately rammed his silver Volkswagen Passat into the back of a motorcycle on Upper Barn Hill, Maidstone. CCTV footage captured the incident. Hilditch was more than twice the legal alcohol limit with 87 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath. He fled the scene but was later traced by police using the vehicle registration. He had cocaine in his pocket. The motorcyclist sustained minor injuries, described as a 'sore bottom'. Hilditch was charged with drink-driving, failing to stop after an accident, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, and possession of cocaine.

Michelle Sutcliffe entered the parking area below Carton House in New Road, Chatham, just after midnight on December 13, 2025, and deliberately set a pile of rubbish alight between two parked cars. The fire spread, engulfing a Jaguar and other parked cars, causing extensive damage to the vehicles and light fixtures in the parking area. Residents feared an explosion and raised the alarm. She was identified via CCTV and arrested on December 19, 2025.

Sean Gaskin relentlessly targeted town centre stores including Holland and Barrett, Boots, Savers, Superdrug, and New Look, stealing items exceeding £2,500 in value such as toiletries, tanning creams, clothing, meat, and cheese products. Initially pleaded guilty at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on 29 April to 10 thefts committed from February, receiving a suspended sentence which he breached by committing further offences. Arrested on 31 May and remanded in custody.

Emiljano Barjamaj, 38, was convicted of producing cannabis and abstracting electricity without authority after a large number of plants were discovered above a takeaway in Maidstone, where he had tapped into the electrical grid.

Between July 2021 and April 2022, Alfie Ryan dumped waste at three locations across Dartford, including Brooklands Lakes, posing a risk to local wildlife. Specific incidents included dumping household waste, toys and a hot tub outside garages between 22 July and 25 August 2021, more waste in a car park in January 2022, and wood, black plastic bags and paint tubs near a lake in April 2022. Offences carried out while banned from driving.